Improvement in reaping and mowing machines



C. HOWELL,

Harvester Rake.

Paiented May 18, 1858.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHAS. HOWELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 20,275, dated May 18,1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HOWELL, of Cleveland,in the county ofUuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in the Construction ot'Reaping and Mowing Machines, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a machineconstructed on my improved plan, and Fig. 2 a plan of the frame-workdetached from the machine.

My invention relates to the frame-work of the machine.

Heretofore the frame has been formed by the union of a number ofrectilinear pieces or beams in such manner as to form a quadrilateral ortriangular machine, or a modification of the same, which, from thenumber of their square and angular corners, weakens the machine andrenders it unfit to resist a sudden strain or wrench, such as frequentlyhappens by coming in contact with an unseen stump or stone, withoutbeing twisted out of shape and otherwise seriously damaged, to preventwhich builders have been compelled to resort to a system of bracing,which not only renders the machine costly, but heavy and unwieldy, toobviate all of which is the object of my improvement; and it consists inconnecting the outer end of the finger-bar and rear end of thegear-block, or both ends of the fin gerbar, by a single curved beam,somewhat in the manner of the curved side of the letter D. By this planthe frame is notonly strengthened and rendered capable of resisting asudden strain without injury, but is also much lighter than by any otherknown mode of constructing the frame-work of a reaping-machine.

To enable others skilled in the art to make, construct, and use myimprovement, I will now proceed to describe it in detail.

The frame-work of the machine, as represented in the drawings, consistsof three principal pieces-to wit, the finger-bar A, curved bar B, andgear-block G. In putting these together the front end of the curved barBis bolted to that end of the finger-bar A next the standing grain, andits other end to the rear extremityof the gear-block O, which for thispurpose is halved, so as to overlap and form a strong connection. Thefront end of the gearblock is then securely bolted to the inner end ofthe finger-bar A, next the driving-wheel D. Thus secured together theyresemble somewhat the shape of the letter D. At a pointintermediatebet-ween the ends of the cuttersay in-a line with the insideof the inner shoe or supporter, E, that connects the main frame with thetruck-frame, and at right angles to the finger-baris bolted one end of abrace,

F, whose other end is secured to the curved' grain is deposited by theraker in an open space between the driving-wheel and platform, whichenables him by one movement of his arms to discharge the grain as fastas it collects in sufficient quantities to form a sheaf, whereas ifrequired to be discharged at the rear two motions would be necessary-oneto collect and compress and the other to discharge.

The rakers seat G may be arranged in any suitable manner to effect thispurpose; but I propose to locate him back of this open space and on theright side of the brace F, as he is then placed in a suitable positionto rake easily and to throw the greater portion of his weight on thedriving-wheel, thus insuring the efficient working of the knife bypreventing the wheel from slipping.

The gear-block 0, like the curved bar, is intended to be made ofcast-iron, and of suitable thickness and shape for the support of thegearing ot' the machine, and which may be of any approved form.

Thefinger-barmayeitherbemadeofwroughtiron or steel, as the builder maydeem best.

Instead of the curved bar and gear-block being made in separate pieces,the two may be cast in one; but the former mode is deemed preferable, asit requires less care in the preparation of the flasks, 820., and isless liable to have flaws in the metal; but either is a greatimprovement over the old mode of framing the machine.

- On the outside of the curved bar, and at the end next the standinggrain, may be formed an arm, H, to which the outside standard, I, forthe support of the reel is secured, the other, I, being secured to theoutside of the gearblock; or, if deemed advisab1e;the outerstandand maybe secured directly to the curved bar without the intervention of anadditional arm.

The machine thus constructed may either have the tongue to which thehorses are attached secured to it directly bymeans of a h in gejoint orotherwise, or, as it is represented in the drawings, atruck-t'rame maybe arranged in

